Make no mistake, these are pivotal times for the Philadelphia Eagles. They want nothing more than to become the best teams in the NFC, if not in the NFL. Boasting as many as 20 draft picks in the next two years, the young franchise has a chance during their formative years to build their roster into something special. Even as they’ve lost some high-profile departures and as the shuffling continues, team execs are confident in staying ahead of the curve.
In these last couple seasons, the Eagles have hit home runs on their draft picks. They’ve recruited possible impact players in Jalen Carter, Cam Jurgens, Nolan Smith Jr., Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. These pickups have set the team’s roster in a very positive direction, though they are now working on adding to their starting five. With defensive coordinator Vic Fangio at the helm, the Eagles have dominated. The club is loaded with exciting homegrown talent primed to blossom into difference makers as they hone their craft on the pitch.
Roster Dynamics and Key Departures
The Eagles went through some significant turnover this offseason. They traded starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans and released Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay Jr. The coaching staff opted not to resign defensive tackle Milton Williams, guard Mekhi Becton, and edge rusher Josh Sweat. As a direct result, all three players were able to hit the open market. While these moves raise some concern over where the Eagles address noticeable holes in their defense, they also need to put their attention toward assembling a juggernaut, roster-wise.
Despite these changes, don’t count out team owner Jeffrey Lurie’s faith in the broader trajectory that all this suggests for the Eagles.
“I think we had an incredible roster. I think we’ll still go into the next season with a superb roster.” – Jeffrey Lurie
The Eagles are preparing for future moves too, such as with tight end Dallas Goedert. His age, injury history, and salary could lead to changes as the team strategizes for the upcoming seasons.
Draft Strategy and Future Prospects
The Eagles’ competitive edge is their huge collection of draft picks. They have 20 selections spread across the 2025 and 2026 draft classes, including eight picks in 2025 and projected compensatory picks in 2026. This amazing windfall of resources provides them unprecedented levels of freedom. They can use these picks to move up in future drafts or package them in trades to bring established talent to the squad.
As the team looks toward the next draft, Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ general manager, has been very clear about needing to get better every day.
“We’re incomplete right now. There’s no doubt about it. Talent acquisition season has just started and it goes for a long time, and we continue to try and find any possible ways to upgrade the depth and talent level on our team.” – Jeffrey Lurie
Along with their substantial draft capital, the Eagles should have three third-round picks in 2026. That kind of rigorous selection strategy makes them very competitive for attracting future talent.
Balancing Talent and Concerns
While optimism surrounds the Eagles’ current roster and future prospects, there are lingering concerns about losing key players and how the franchise will adapt. All of these defensive departures on the field impact not just team chemistry, but overall performance on the field as well. Roseman is keenly aware of that reality as he continues to work through roster moves.
“Our job is to worry, and you’ll have causes for concern no matter how many good players we have on our team.” – Howie Roseman
The Eagles remain committed to addressing any potential weaknesses while striving for greatness. For Lurie, there’s a deep pride in what they’ve built but an understanding that this is just the beginning.
“I don’t know. I’d much rather say that. I’m very proud of that.” – Jeffrey Lurie
Additionally, Lurie’s faith in Roseman’s stewardship gives hope to those still working behind the scenes to continue tightening up the team’s hierarchy.
“With Howie, trust me, I think every day is an excursion in terms of what could be.” – Jeffrey Lurie
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